Artem Asatryan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, does not remember any case when the draft on funded pension system was discussed in the government, and the PAP ministers expressed against it. In response to Aravot.am question that the PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan, talking about pension reforms at the 7th Congress, has said, “I can not imagine such inhuman and ineffective step,” whether any PAP Minister has ever expressed any doubt or concern during the discussion of the draft.
To recall that during the design phase of the reform, PAP was a coalition, and the portfolio of the Minister of the Labor and Social Affairs was owned by PAP.
As said by Artem Asatryan, “I consider giving qualification to pension reforms with a single phrase unacceptable. Pension reforms in our country are directed to solution of not only today’s but tomorrow’s problems of our citizens. And to give assessment to pension reforms, we need first to fully understand its goals, objectives, and to view it in the complex. Today’s decision chosen by the country, the government, and the authorities does not an alternative, more we delay the reforms, more difficult will be the situation for the next government. Drafts, which were discussed meantime and are approved by the government, are submitted to the National Assembly for approval, as to who has voted pro and cons at the National Assembly, you can go to the page and look at them.”
Nelly BABAYAN
